To call your knees important joints would be an understatement given the role they play in your ability to move throughout the world. When a problem develops in your knees, such as a meniscus tear, seeking our help early on can make all the difference in your ability to continue to rely on your knees in the future.
If you’re hobbled by knee pain at the hands of a torn meniscus, the highly experienced and qualified team here at Genesis Orthopaedic and Spine urges you to seek our help so you can take to your feet with confidence again.
Here’s a look at why you shouldn’t ignore a meniscus tear.
Signs of a meniscus tear
Each of your knees features two wedge-shaped pieces of cartilage called menisci, which provide cushioning between your thigh and shin bones. These connective tissues not only act as shock absorbers in your knees, they also play a role in the overall stability of your joint.
If you develop a tear in your meniscus, which can develop over time or as a result of an acute injury, you may experience:
- Knee pain
- Swelling in your knee
- Increasing stiffness
- The feeling as if your knee is going to give out
- Locking or catching in your knee
- Loss of range of motion
These symptoms may develop over time if your meniscus tear is a result of repeated stresses, or they may come on quickly after an acute trauma, in which case you may also experience a “popping” sensation in your knee.
Lacking healing resources
The primary reason why meniscus tears are cause for concern is that they don’t necessarily heal on their own, even given enough time and rest.
Each meniscus has an outer area that enjoys ample blood supply, which can help with healing should the tear occur only in this “red zone.” Unfortunately, the inner two-thirds of your menisci, which we refer to as the “white zone,” don’t benefit from any blood supply, which means this tissue doesn’t have access to the resources necessary to repair itself on its own.
If your meniscus tear involves the white zone, it’s important that we supply this tissue with the tools it needs to repair and rebuild, which we accomplish with:
- Platelet-rich plasma (PRP)
- Bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC)
- Lipogems: adipose/fat therapy
These regenerative therapies tap the human body’s natural resources to help create the ultimate healing environment in your injured knee.
Whether we use regenerative medicine on its own or after surgical repair or trimming of the tissue, our goal is to help your meniscus heal better and more quickly.
This type of early intervention for your torn meniscus can save you years of discomfort and poorly functioning knees down the road, as untreated meniscus tears can lead to arthritis and other long-term issues.
If you’d like to get the best treatment for your meniscus tear, contact our office in Westfield, New Jersey, to set up an appointment.
